IONIA — For the second straight year, Ionia Parks and Recreation brought a trio of former Michigan State University athletes to town to talk and interact with some of the children involved in its youth sports programs.

On Thursday night, 2012 Spartan football defensive captain Chris Norman, former MSU basketball forward Idong Ibok and former Spartan soccer standout Steve Williford spoke at the Armory to a group of young athletes. The mutual message from the three was overcoming adversity and the importance of working hard in sports and in the classroom.

The event was coordinated by the Ionia Parks and Recreation department and Spartan Nation Magazine founder and publisher Hondo Carpenter.

"This was my first time coming here and I loved it," WIlliford said. "Hondo didn't tell me what we were doing at first, but it was a great surprise.

"I loved coming here and I love giving back to people because the three of us are blessed and very grateful for what we have been able to do at Michigan State."

Each athlete had their own story of adversity to share with the group from losing parents or only having one parental figure while growing up.

Ibok told the group about his experience before getting the opportunity to come to the United States from Nigeria, where he finished high school and ultimately played on one of the Spartans' Final Four teams.

Ibok said that it was the family environment at MSU that was the most important aspect of playing there.

"It's a family environment at Michigan State," he said. "I had the chance to be comfortable in a family environment and that was important to me being so far away from my family."

Norman also talked about his decision to not pursue a career in the NFL because he has decided to study at a seminary and become a minister.

"In the Gospel there's a story about somebody that stumbles across a field and then they found a treasure hidden in that field. As a result of finding that treasure, they sold everything they had so they could by that field," Norman said. "That's pretty much what happened to me when I found Christ, so once I met him and fell absolutely in love with him, everything else was not as attractive in comparison.

"With that being said, everybody doesn't have to make the same kind of decision if that's not what you are being led to. It just so happens that I was. So, because of who (Christ) is, that made the decision easy for me."

Following the event the athletes signed autographs and posed for photos with those in attendance.